ARTSmemphis gets $500,000 grant, announces Arts Week

Memphis Flyer - By Jon W. Sparks - ArtsMemphis, which has been instrumental in helping the hard-hit arts community during the pandemic, has made two announcements that serve to boost the arts.

The National Endowment for the Arts has given a $500,000 American Rescue Plan grant to ArtsMemphis that will go to local arts organizations. Those will be awarded in early 2022 to help with recovery and reopening.

Memphis is one of 66 communities across the country, and one of only three Tennessee recipients, to receive funding. ArtsMemphis invested $2.2 million in 64 arts groups and hundreds of artists in 2021. During the pandemic, ArtsMemphis helped arts organizations maintain, rework business plans, create virtual arts events, and develop reopening protocols.

Also, ArtsMemphis has scheduled its second annual Arts Week — a week-long celebration to showcase Memphis’ artists and arts organizations — from December 5th through December 12th, 2021. This year’s Arts Week will have performances and safe in-person experiences from more than a dozen of ArtsMemphis’ grantees. There will also be a series of special events during the week.

ArtsMemphis has also announced a matching gift of up to $30,000 for contributions to ArtsMemphis during the week-long celebration. This year’s event is able to present more than last year’s inaugural week, which was limited to virtual and social media-hosted celebrations due to the pandemic.

“ArtsMemphis is a convener and connector for not only arts resources and advocacy but also for community celebration,” said ArtsMemphis President & CEO Elizabeth Rouse. “As we all have tried to make the most of these last two years, we longed for the light at the end of the tunnel to appear. Now, it seems that the light has begun to grow brighter — in the form of stage lights, marquee lights, and the flashing lights that guide us to our seats to experience the talent of our arts groups.”